Educational card system and method for using same

ABSTRACT

An educational card system comprises a set of game cards, each game card having a card number, an associated mathematical operation that is to be conducted using the card number and, at least one playing icon. The set of game cards has a plurality of playing icons, each of the plurality of playing icons having an associated playing number and being arranged on at least some of the game cards such that, for each particular playing number, the particular playing number is equal to a total derived by conducting the mathematical operation on the card number of the game cards on which the particular playing number appears.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of games and, more particularly, toeducational games or games of skill used by one or more players forenjoyment and the development of mathematical skills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various different games have been developed in the past for use indeveloping mathematical skills. These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,661,392;4,955,614; 5,033,754; 5,273,281; 6,109,924; 6,676,414; 6,716,033; and6,811,402.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a card gamewhich is fun and entertaining and, in addition, which can provide acompetitive learning environment, such that one or more players maylearn mathematical skills, and develop cognitive ability, in acomfortable learning environment. The invention provides a set of gamecards that may be used by children and adults to learn mathematical andcognitive skills. It will be appreciated that the game cards may bephysical cards or computer representations thereof (i.e. they may bedisplayed on a monitor).

In accordance with one aspect of the instant invention there is providedan educational card system comprising:

-   -   (a) a set of game cards, each game card having:        -   (i) a card number;        -   (ii) an associated mathematical operation that is to be            conducted using the card number; and,        -   (iii) at least one playing icon    -   wherein the set of game cards has a plurality of playing icons,        each of the plurality of playing icons having an associated        playing number and being arranged on at least some of the game        cards such that, for each particular playing icon, the        associated particular playing number is equal to a total derived        by conducting the mathematical operation on the card number of        the game cards on which the particular playing icon appears.

In one embodiment, the educational card system further comprises atleast one selection card, the at least one selection card displaying allof the playing icons and a playing number associated with each playingicon.

In another embodiment, the educational card system further comprises aplurality of selection cards, each selection card displaying one icon.

In another embodiment, a single selection card is provided, theselection card displaying each icon and a playing number associated witheach icon.

In another embodiment, a mathematical operation is displayed on eachgame card.

In another embodiment, a plurality of mathematical operations is usedwith a set of game cards and all but one of the mathematical operationsis displayed on the set of game cards. Preferably, the mathematicaloperations comprise addition and subtraction and only subtraction isdisplayed on game cards in the set.

In accordance with another aspect of the instant invention there isprovided an educational card system comprising:

-   -   (a) a set of game cards, each game card having:        -   (i) a card number;        -   (ii) an associated mathematical operation that is to be            conducted using the card number; and,        -   (iii) at least one playing number    -   wherein the set of game cards has a plurality of playing        numbers, each of the plurality of playing numbers being arranged        on at least some of the game cards such that, for each        particular playing number, the particular playing number is        equal to a total derived by conducting the mathematical        operation on the card number of the game cards on which the        particular playing number appears.

In one embodiment, the educational card system further comprises aplurality of selection cards, each selection card displaying a playingnumber.

In another embodiment, the educational card system further comprises oneselection card that displays each playing number. Preferably,

In another embodiment, a mathematical operation is displayed on eachgame card.

In another embodiment, a plurality of mathematical operations is usedwith a set of game cards and all but one of the mathematical operationsis displayed on the set of game cards. Preferably, the mathematicaloperations comprise addition and subtraction and only subtraction isdisplayed on game cards in the set.

In accordance with another aspect of the instant invention there isprovided a method of playing a mathematical game comprising:

-   -   a) providing a set of game cards, each game card having:        -   (i) a card number;        -   (ii) an associated mathematical operation that is to be            conducted using the card number; and,        -   (iii) at least one playing indicia, each playing indicia            including a playing number    -   wherein the set of game cards has a plurality of playing        indicia, each of the plurality of playing indicia being arranged        on at least some of the game cards such that, for each        particular playing number, the particular playing number is        equal to a total derived by conducting the mathematical        operation on the card number of the game cards on which the        particular playing indicia appears;    -   b) determining a selected playing indicia;    -   c) reviewing each game card to determine if the selected playing        indicia is on a game card and conducting the mathematical        operation on the card number of the game cards on which the        selected playing indicia is provided to obtain a total; and,    -   d) using the total to determine the playing indicia.

In one embodiment, the playing indicia consists of a playing number andthe method further comprises providing a plurality of selection cards,each selection card displaying a playing number and using the selectioncards to determine selected playing number.

In another embodiment, the playing indicia comprises a playing iconhaving an associated playing number and the method further comprisesproviding a plurality of selection cards, each selection card displayinga playing icon and using the selection cards to determine selectedplaying icon.

In another embodiment, the playing indicia consists of a playing numberand the method further comprises providing one selection card thatdisplays each playing number and using the selection card to determinethe selected playing number.

In another embodiment, the playing indicia comprises a playing iconhaving an associated playing number and the method further comprisesproviding one selection card that displays each playing icon and theassociated playing number and using the selection card to determine theselected playing icon.

In another embodiment, a plurality of mathematical operations are usedwith a set of game cards and all but one of the mathematical operationsis displayed on the set of game cards and the method further r comprisesdetermining the mathematical operation for a game card by reading theoperation displayed thereon and, if no mathematical operation isdisplayed thereon, determining the mathematical operation for a gamecard by remembering the mathematical operation that is not displayed onthe game cards in the set.

In another embodiment, the set of game cards is used to control themovement of game pieces around a board.

Accordingly, in accordance with the instant invention, a playerpreferably plays the game without using a calculator or pencil andpaper. Therefore, as it is determined whether a particular playingnumber is on a particular card, the player must develop and solve amathematical equation using, preferably, their mind. For example, ifmathematical operations comprise addition and subtraction, then as it isrevealed whether a selected playing number is on each game card, theplayer must add or subtract (as is indicated by the playing card) thecard numbers so as to solve an equation and determine the selectedplayer number. Accordingly, repetitive use of the game will enhance aplayer's familiarity with the mathematical operations that are used inthe game and the results produced by using those mathematical operationson the card numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the instant invention will be more fullyand completely understood in accordance with the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIGS. 1-8 are schematic drawings of a set of eight game cards inaccordance with an embodiment of the instant invention; and,

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of a selection card that may optionally beused with game cards 1-8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the instant invention, an educational card systemutilizes a set of game cards. FIGS. 1-8 exemplify eight game cards,which define a set of game cards in accordance with the instantinvention. In particular, game card number 1 is exemplified in FIG. 1.Game card 2 is exemplified in FIG. 2. Similarly, FIGS. 3-8 exemplifygame cards 3-8 respectively. Each game card 10 is provided with a cardnumber 12 an associated mathematical operation 14 and at least oneplaying number 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, game card 10 is cardnumber “2”, that is provided in the lower right hand corner and isdenoted by reference number 12. Further, the mathematical operation thatis associated with the game card 10 is subtraction, as indicated by thesubtraction sign designated by reference numeral 14. Further, the gamecard 10 is provided with thirteen playing numbers designated byreference numeral 16. In the case of game card 2, the playing numbersare “2”, “3”, “4”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9”, “12”, “13”, “14”, “15”, “16” and“19”.

Referring to FIG. 3, game card number 3 contains twelve playing numbers16. Once again, the mathematical operation is subtraction (as indicatedby reference numeral 14). In this case, some of the same playing numbersare used as on game card number 2. However, some different numbers areutilized, for example, playing number “10”.

In one particularly preferred aspect of the invention, a game card 10may not display a mathematical operation. Instead, the mathematicaloperation may be deduced from the lack of a mathematical operation beingexplicitly displayed upon the card. For example, in the set of gamecards 1-8 set out in FIGS. 1-8, the mathematical operations that areutilized are addition and subtraction. In particular, the mathematicaloperation subtraction is displayed on the game cards that are numbered2, 3 and 5. The remaining game cards, namely the game cards that arenumbered 1, 4 and 6-8 do not display mathematical operation.Accordingly, a player, who is advised in advance that the set of gamecards 10 utilize the mathematical operations addition and subtractionwill know that those cards which do not contain a mathematical operationprinted thereon have the mathematical operation of addition associatedtherewith. This is an additional piece of information that a playerkeeps in mind as they use the set of game cards. Accordingly, this addsa degree of complexity to the game. In order to create a game having alower degree of complexity, it will be appreciated that a mathematicaloperation may be provided on each game card.

It will also be appreciated that, in order to change the level ofcomplexity, the mathematical operation may be other than addition andsubtraction. For example, it could include one or more ofmultiplication, division, squares and the like.

Whereas each game card must contain at least one playing number 16, itis preferred that each playing card contains a plurality of playingnumbers 16. Further, each playing number 16 is provided on at lease onegame card 10 in a set of game cards. The playing number 16 are arrangedon a set of game cards 10 such that, for each playing number 16, theparticular playing number 16 is equal to the total derived by conductingthe mathematical operation 14 on the card numbers 12 of the game cards10 on which the particular plying number 16 appears. By way of example,the particular playing number that may be selected for a game may be“10”. The number 10 appears on game cards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Accordinglyby applying the mathematical operation 14 associated with each of gamecards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 to the card number 12 of each of game card 3, 4,5, 6 and 8, the following equation is obtained.

The particular number=−3+4−5+6+8=10

Accordingly, by adding and subtracting the card numbers 12 of each ofthe game cards 10 on which the particular number 16 is displayed, aplayer is able to determine the number that has been selected.

It will be apparent that the number of, and the identity of, the playingnumbers 16 that appear on a game card 10 will depend upon themathematical operations that are used.

Accordingly, in one mode of operation, two people may play the game. Thefirst player (player 1) selects a playing number from the set of playingnumbers. Accordingly, in the case of game cards 1-8 as represented byFIGS. 1-8, player 1 may select a number between 1 and 20. As player 1views each of game cards 1-8, player 1 advises the second player (player2) whether the particular number that player 1 has selected is on thegame card. Accordingly, in this example, player 1 would advise player 2that the selected number is not on game card 1, 2 and 7 but that theparticular number is on game cards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Player 2 must beable to see that mathematical operation and the card number as Player 1reviews the cards. Accordingly, players 1 and 2 may be seated side byside so that both players may view the front face of the game cards.Alternately, the mathematical operation and card number may be printedon the reverse face of the game card from the side that contains theplaying numbers. Accordingly, in such a case, players 1 and 2 may beseated opposite to each other (e.g. across a table). As player 1 reviewsthe cards and advises whether the particular number is on the game cardbeing viewed, player 2 adds or subtracts the card number to build andsolve the equation set out previously and is thereby able to calculatethe particular number that has been selected by player 1. Player 1 mayreview each game card 10 sequentially in card number or in anyparticular order, provided that all game cards are reviewed.

It will be appreciated that more than two players could be used to playthe game. In such a case, player 2 (i.e. the player who calculates thetotal) may vary from game to game. Alternately, or in addition, player 1(who selects the particular number) may vary. It will be appreciatedthat the game may be computerized so that only a single player may playa game. Accordingly, the computer may include software that programs thecomputer to select a particular number in a set of game cards. Acomputer screen or the like may be used to sequentially display eachgame card and the computer may advise the person as each play card isdisplayed whether the particular number is present on the displayed gamecard. Accordingly, as used herein, a game card may be a physical cardthat may be held by a person or a display thereof on a screen.

In accordance with another embodiment of the instant invention, theeducational card system may include, in addition to a set of game cards10, a plurality of selection cards. The selection cards may be, forexample, a set of playing card sized cards, each of which has a playingnumber 16 thereon. Accordingly, instead of player 1 reviewing game cards1-8 and determining a playing number after reviewing the game cards,player 1 may merely select one of the selection cards so as to determinethe particular number.

In accordance with a further alternate embodiment, A single selectioncard 18 may be provided (see FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 9, selection card18 contains each playing number 16. Accordingly, in order to select aplaying number, a person need only review selection card 18.

It will be appreciated that, in a further alternate embodiment, theselection cards, or the single selection card 18, may be provided withicons (flags, animals, plants or the like). Each icon may have aparticular number associated with it. Accordingly, the selection cardsmay contain both the icon and the playing number associated therewith.In accordance with this embodiment, once a player selects an icon, theselection card may be utilized to determine the playing numberassociated with that particular icon. The game may then commenceutilizing cards that display the playing numbers.

However, in a further alternate embodiment, it will be appreciated thatthe game cards 10 need not have playing numbers displayed thereon. Inparticular, as the playing numbers themselves are not subjected to themathematical operation, but the card number is, it will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that icons may be utilized on the game cardsin place of playing numbers. Accordingly, if the icons which areselected for a particular game are flags, then each of game cards 1-8may contain one or more icons wherein the icons are arranged on at leastsome of the game cards 10 such that, for a particular icon, a number maybe determined by solving a mathematical equation consisting ofconducting a mathematical operation on each card number 12 associatedwith a game card 10 on which the particular icon appears. Once thistotal is obtained, a selection card 18, which contains the icons and anassociated number therefor, may be utilized to convert the number thatwas obtained by solving the equation to the associated icon, therebydetermining the icon that was selected by player 1.

In a further alternate embodiment, the method and apparatus of thisinvention may be utilized to control the play on a game board. Forexample, a game board may have a track defined by a series of spacesalong which a player moves. The number of spaces that a player movesalong the track on each move may be controlled by any means known in thegame art, such as by moving a playing piece a number of spaces equal tothe sum of the role of one or more dice, or equal to the number on acard that is drawn from a deck of cards. In accordance with thisembodiment, the player must first correctly determine the particularplaying number. If the particular playing number is correctlydetermined, then the player may move, such as by rolling two dice. In amore preferred embodiment, a timer, such as an hourglass shapedthree-minute egg timer, may be utilized. The timer provides a player alimited amount of time to correctly determine the particular number.Pursuant to this embodiment, the number of spaces that a piece moves maybe based on the amount of time remaining after a player has correctlydetermined the particular number.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousadditions and modifications may be made to the educational card systemset out herein and the method of using same, and each of those isencompassed by the following claims.

1. An educational card system comprising: a) a set of game cards, eachgame card having: i) a card number; ii) an associated mathematicaloperation that is to be conducted using the card number; and, iii) atleast one playing icon wherein the set of game cards has a plurality ofplaying icons, each of the plurality of playing icons having anassociated playing number and being arranged on at least some of thegame cards such that, for each particular playing icon, the associatedparticular playing number is equal to a total derived by conducting themathematical operation on the card number of the game cards on which theparticular playing icon appears.
 2. The educational card system of claim1 further comprising at least one selection card, the at least oneselection card displaying all of the playing icons and a playing numberassociated with each playing icon.
 3. The educational card system ofclaim 2 further comprising a plurality of selection cards, eachselection card displaying one icon.
 4. The educational card system ofclaim 2 wherein a single selection card is provided, the selection carddisplaying each icon and a playing number associated with each icon. 5.The educational card system of claim 1 wherein a mathematical operationis displayed on each game card.
 6. The educational card system of claim1 wherein a plurality of mathematical operations are used with a set ofgame cards and all but one of the mathematical operations is displayedon the set of game cards.
 7. The educational card system of claim 6wherein the mathematical operations comprise addition and subtractionand only subtraction is displayed on game cards in the set.
 8. Theeducational card system of claim 1 wherein the educational card systemis used to control the movement of game pieces around a board.
 9. Aneducational card system comprising: a) set of game cards, each game cardhaving: i) a card number; ii) an associated mathematical operation thatis to be conducted using the card number; and, iii) at least one playingnumber wherein the set of game cards has a plurality of playing numbers,each of the plurality of playing numbers being arranged on at least someof the game cards such that, for each particular playing number, theparticular playing number is equal to a total derived by conducting themathematical operation on the card number of the game cards on which theparticular playing number appears.
 10. The educational card system ofclaim 9 wherein the educational card system is used to control themovement of game pieces around a board.
 11. The educational card systemof claim 10 further comprising a plurality of selection cards, eachselection card displaying a playing number.
 12. The educational cardsystem of claim 10 further comprising one selection card that displayseach playing number.
 13. The educational card system of claim 10 whereina mathematical operation is displayed on each game card.
 14. Theeducational card system of claim 10 wherein a plurality of mathematicaloperations are used with a set of game cards and all but one of themathematical operations is displayed on the set of game cards.
 15. Theeducational card system of claim 14 wherein the mathematical operationscomprise addition and subtraction and only subtraction is displayed ongame cards in the set.
 16. A method of playing a mathematical gamecomprising: a) providing a set of game cards, each game card having: i)a card number; ii) an associated mathematical operation that is to beconducted using the card number; and, iii) at least one playing indicia,each playing indicia including a playing number wherein the set of gamecards has a plurality of playing indicia, each of the plurality ofplaying indicia being arranged on at least some of the game cards suchthat, for each particular playing number, the particular playing numberis equal to a total derived by conducting the mathematical operation onthe card number of the game cards on which the particular playingindicia appears; b) determining a selected playing indicia; c) reviewingeach game card to determine if the selected playing indicia is on a gamecard and conducting the mathematical operation on the card number of thegame cards on which the selected playing indicia is provided to obtain atotal; and, d) using the total to determine the playing indicia.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the playing indicia consists of a playingnumber and the method further comprises providing a plurality ofselection cards, each selection card displaying a playing number andusing the selection cards to determine selected playing number.
 18. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the playing indicia comprises a playing iconhaving an associated playing number and the method further comprisesproviding a plurality of selection cards, each selection card displayinga playing icon and using the selection cards to determine selectedplaying icon.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the playing indiciaconsists of a playing number and the method further comprises providingone selection card that displays each playing number and using theselection card to determine the selected playing number.
 20. The methodof claim 16 wherein the playing indicia comprises a playing icon havingan associated playing number and the method further comprises providingone selection card that displays each playing icon and the associatedplaying number and using the selection card to determine the selectedplaying icon.
 21. The method of claim 16 wherein a plurality ofmathematical operations are used with a set of game cards and all butone of the mathematical operations is displayed on the set of game cardsand the method further comprises determining the mathematical operationfor a game card by reading the operation displayed thereon and, if nomathematical operation is displayed thereon, determining themathematical operation for a game card by remembering the mathematicaloperation that is not displayed on the game cards in the set.
 22. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the set of game cards is used to control themovement of game pieces around a board.